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Designer Bathrooms That Will Convince You to Invest in a Glass Shower Enclosure

Goodbye, curtains!

Headshot of Hadley MendelsohnBy Hadley Mendelsohn
bathroom with glass shower enclosure
Heidi Caillier Design

Whether you're embarking on a bathroom renovation and want some shower design inspiration before you begin the process or you've inherited a space you have to make the best of as-is, might we suggest a glass shower enclosure? While we have nothing against a good shower curtain, there's something about this treatment that really elevates a space—as you'll see in the following examples. But before we begin the glass shower enclosure tour de force, it's worth mentioning a few of their general perks: They're ideal for smaller shower stalls and wet rooms, they enhance every bit of natural light available, and they look polished and modern. we'll let the designer spaces ahead do the rest of the proverbial talking.

1

Frame and Conceal

bathroom with painted walls and glass shower
Heidi Caillier Design

In this bathroom designed by Heidi Caillier, the archway asserts a touch of drama and frames the shower beautifully while also making it feel separate from the toilet area.

2

Make It Feel Like a Room

modern bathroom with glass enclosure
AP Design House

Textural and semi-opaque, these striking glass doors in a bathroom by AP Design House make the shower feel like a room of its own.

3

Customize the Shape

black and white marble shower with glass doors
Valerie Wilcox

Don't let tricky roof lines stop you from installing glass shower enclosures. Simply follow the shape of the ceiling and then use a material that plays up the irregular curves. Here, Sarah Richardson spotlights a slab of swirling marble that serpentines like the angle of the ceiling.

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4

Separate With a Ledge

pink bathroom
ERIC PIASECKI

Depending on the plumbing and draining situations in your bathroom, you may or may not need to have a ledge that projects the surrounding pace from potential flooding. In this bathroom by designer Kureck Jones, the bubblegum pink subway tiles on the wall and ledge create cohesion while the diamond, almost leaf-like motif on the floors add just the right amount of contrast.

5

Camouflage the Shower

bathroom with floating tub and glass shower
Nicole Hollis Studio

Allow a formal floating tub to take the design spotlight and minimize your shower's visual footprint with a barely-there glass enclosure, as Nicole Hollis Studio did here.

6

Camouflage It, but Do It With Color

green zellige tile bathroom
Anna Spiro Design

Okay, so, the same tip applies here, but a little different: Instead of making it blend in with neutrals, cover the whole bathroom in dazzling variations of your favorite color with zellige tiles. It will make a small space feel more special and the shower will "disappear" but not because it's plain. Tile wraps all the way around this Anna Spiro-designed bathroom and the glass enclosure separates the shower from the rest of the room to keep it out of the splash zone functionally but still connecting visually.

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7

Go Halvsies

bathroom with modern and classic shower
Tamsin Johnson Interiors

Both classic and cutting-edge, this shower-tub combo by Tamsin Johnson is the perfect place to unwind and relax. The Art Deco-style glass sconces reflect the slight green tinge of the fluted glass enclosure, which only extends halfway as to not totally block the beautiful marble details of the tub.

8

Create Contrast

wood bathroom with marble shower
Trevor Tondro

As we mentioned previously, glass showers can work well against any style backdrop. This modern marble and glass shower is a welcome modern surprise in the rustic 1770s Charleston residence designed by Cameron Schwabenton. The overall eclectic approach honors the integrity of the home's history with rustic wood foundations. But by incorporating more modern materials, like the marble and glass used in the shower, it also feels contemporary and polished.

9

Connect to the Outdoors

modern glass shower
KARYN MILLET

A glass door that's actually, well, a real door to the exterior of your home, is the ultimate indoor/outdoor shower dream. Designed by Nick Olsen, the space has an additional rain showerhead that elevates it without making it feel cramped.

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10

Bring nn Warmth Elsewhere

bathroom with glass enclosure
Shade Degges

If you're worried that a glass enclosure will make your bathroom feel too cold, don't worry—there are other ways to warm it up, aside from a shower curtain. For example, Jae Joo opted for a bronze farmhouse sink and a casual catch-all for plenty of towels and textiles.

11

Add Iron Muntins

bathroom with glass enclosure
Nicole Hollis Studio

Add iron separators to give the bathroom a more geometric punch. The sharp black frame of the glass enclosure in this bathroom by Nicole Hollis Studio is emphasized further by the black ceiling and flooring while the handmade wall tiles tone it down.

12

Embrace the Quirks

bathroom with glass shower
Reath Design

Lean into the angular lines of a boxy shower frame with fluted glass, steel frames, and a sharp, high-contrast tile pattern as Reath Design did in this narrow but light-filled bathroom.

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13

Ditch the Swinging Doors

bathroom with fluted glass shower enclosure
Tamsin Johnson Interiors

Vertical fluted glass elongates this texture-rich and natural bathroom designed by Tamsin Johnson Interiors. It might feel too crowded if the glass enclosure stretched to both ends, plus not having to swing anything open saves room.

14

Bounce Light

white small bathroom with glass enclosure
Kevin Scott

If you haven't already picked up on this, glass shower enclosures are perfect for tinier bathrooms. Studio DIAA built in a shelf and chose a simple scheme to bounce light and maintain a bright, open atmosphere despite a small footprint. The Crystalite skylight is a great call, too, since it floods the space with natural light but also maintains privacy.

15

Choose Hardware Wisely

white, room, bathroom, interior design, wall, tile, marble, bathtub, floor, architecture,
Elizabeth Roberts Architecture & Design

One seemingly small but important way to make your glass shower enclosure pop? Hardware and hinges. This striking shower by Elizabeth Roberts Architecture and Design is like stepping into a magical cotton candy heaven (one that isn't sticky of course, as that wouldn't be of much use in a shower). So the pink marble is obviously a highlight here, but the hardware helps polish off the look.

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16

Floating Placement

modern bathroom with glass shower
Hecker Guthrie

Float the glass shower enclosure for a more interesting and unique facade. Hecker Guthrie put it front and center for an eye-catching effect.

17

Measure Carefully

bathroom with tiles in the shower
Heidi Caillier Design

In a shower stall, if sliding/ pocket glass doors aren't an option, really think hard about how you'll function in the space and then design your glass door accordingly. In this bathroom by Heidi Caillier, the door opens out, which can make it easier when exiting the shower, but it just misses the door that opens into the room. Lesson? Measure carefully.

18

Make It a Wet Room

tile, bathroom, room, red, property, floor, architecture, interior design, wall, plumbing fixture,
Emil Dervish

Skip the foggy glass or dark curtain in a wet room but still allow for splash-safe zones with glass doors. It'll make the shower feel like livable square footage and makes cleanup that much easier. Emil Dervish kept this industrial space clean with white graphic square tiles but added some funk with color on the upper half of the walls and ceiling.

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19

Stick to a Tight Palette

bathrooms with glass shower ideas
Read McKendree

Interior designer Elizabeth Cooper brought out the rich blue veining in the marble surfaces with an icy pale blue paint color on the cabinet doors. Keeping some of the wall unfinished creates a calming effect that helps keep pattern-pushing small spaces from feeling overwhelming. And now, thanks to the elevated materials and perfect proportions, washing up in the tiny shower stall will be more than comfortabe.

20

Consider the Kids

bathroom with pink and blue penny tiles and glass shower
Nicole Franzen

Use the same shape of tiles throughout the bathroom but break it up by color blocking. Here, GRT Architects chose periwinkle for the sink and vanity area and then a pale peach pink penny tile for the shower region. The navy paint and black fixtures blend in surprisingly well and a half glass enclosure makes it easier to help little ones bathe.

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